Surface gauge and marker



June 30, 1936. J R S N SURFACE GAUGE AND MARKER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 26, 1955 JJZ .Bemarz J. R. BENSON SURFACE GAUGE AND MARKER Filed March 26, 1935 3 Sheets- Sheet 2 June 30, 1936. J, R. BENSON 2,0 6

SURFACE GAUGE AND MARKER Filed March-2e, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jlifiamam gnwwnmon Patented June 30, 1936 n-ire. STATES antes raise 1 Cla'im.

This invention has reference to a-maoh-ine designed for use in testing paved surfacesto detect and locate the irregularities and uneven portions of the surfaces.

An important object of the invention is the provision of means whereby theirre'gul'ar or 'uneven portions of the surface will 'be marked, to the end that the condition "of the surface may readily be determined.

A further obie'c t of the invention is to provide a machine having means whereby an audible signal'will be made simultaneously with the operation of the marking mechanism, as the machine passes over an irregularity in the pavedsurface.

With the foregoing and other obiects inview which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the I i claim, it being understood that changes may :be

made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of-theinvention as claimed.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a machine constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a plan View thereof.

Figure 3 .is an enlarged detail view illustrating the central section of themach-ine. Figure 4 is an enlarged elevational view illustrating the marking material discharge nozzle.

a still further modified form of the invention. 7 Referring to the drawings in detail, the body portion includes afr'ont section 5, rear section 6, and an intermediate section .1.

As clearly shown by the drawings the sections 5 and 6 are provided with extensions 8 that are fitted in recesses formed in the ends of the intermediate section 1, where they are bolted, by means of the bolts 9.

At the front and rear ends of the body portion are supporting wheels I0, while at the central portion of the body portion, is a marking wheel to provide a valve which seats against the housing is a pipe 26 that carries .the nozzle. 21 at its lower end. In order that the valve 20 will be (GI. 33-1V l or roller indicated 'by the reference character N.

opposite sides of the late ll that is formedwith openings at its ends. Extending through the opening at one end of the plate i l, is a valve stem 18, the valve stem being formed with threads to 15 accommodate the nuts 19, which nuts are spaced apart to permit sliding movement of the rod It, independently of'the valve stem H3.

The lower end of the valve stem I8 is tapered valveseat 2| formed within the valve housing 22. -A lateral extension23 is formed integral withthe valve housing 22, and provides means whereby the flexible pipe 24 may be connected tothe valve housing. One end of the flexible pipe 2 t connects with the tank 25, so that markingliquid may pass from the tank -2-5 into the valve housing 22, Where the marking liquid is released, by the action of the valve 2-0. Communicating with the valve hermally held in its closed position, a coiled spring 28 is mounted on the valve stem l8, the lower end of the spring engaging the nut 29 while the upper end of the spring engages the bracketv 30 through yr, which the valve stem it extends. Thus it. will be seen that due to this construction, vertical movement of the valve stem, caused by the marking wheel moving vertically, will result in a quantity of marking .fluid being deposited by the nozzle 21. o

At the opposite side of the body portion and connected with the plate 11-, is a rod -35, which rod extends downwardly and contacts with the arm '32 connected with the contactarm 33, which carries the contact point 34 that engages the ,-contact point when the-rod 3! moves upwardly. The contact arm 33 engages the contact arm 34 which is in circuit with the bell or buzzer 35' through the wire 36, the bell or buzzer 35 being grounded through the wire 31. It will, of course, be understood that the return circuit is made through the frame of the machine in the usual and well known manner.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that upon vertical movement of the marking wheel caused by contact of the marking wheel with the surface over which the device is moving, will cause an audible signal to be made, simultaneously with the discharge of a marking fluid on the irregular portion of the surface.

In the form of the invention as illustrated by Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings, the body portion of the machine is indicated by the reference character 38, and in this form of the invention the valve stem is indicated by the reference character 39 which operates in the valve housing 49 to control the passage of marking fluid through the pipe 4| and nozzle 42. Secured to the body portion 38 and supported above the valve housing 49, is a bracket 43 that has an extension 44 through which the valve stem 39 extends, the valve stem 39 being normally urged downwardly by means of the coiled spring 45. The reference character 46 designates an arm which is pivotally connected to the body portion 38, at a point intermediate the ends of the arm 46, one end of the arm 46 being connected with the valve stem 39, while the opposite end thereof is formed with an opening through which the rod 41 extends, the rod 41 having a stop 48 thereon, to engage the upper surface of the arm 46, moving the arm and causing the arm to tilt when the marking wheel 49 moves into a recess in the paved surface over which the machine is moving. As the arm 46 moves, the valve stem 39 is operated to release material through the nozzle 42. It will also be seen that when the wheel 49 moves upwardly due to its contact with an elevation on the surface, the member 46 will move downwardly under the action of the spring 45 operating the valve stem 39 to release the marking fluid.

In this form of the invention the signal is operated by means of the vertical movement of the wheel 49, and comprises an arm 53 which hasan opening through which the rod extends, the rod 5| carrying springs 52 at its upper end, between which one end of the arm 53 is supported and held in its normal position. Contact points 54 are carried by the arm 53 and are adapted to engage contact members 55 on the bracket 56. A contact arm 51 is supported by the body portion and engages the arm 53, so' that when the arm 53 moves into engagement with the contact members 55 and 56, a circuit to the bell or buzzer will be made through the wire 58. When thewheel 49 moves upwardly, the circuit will be completed between theuppermo'st contact points, and when the wheel 49 moves downwardly, the circuit will be made through the lowermost contact points. An arm 59 has connection with the vertically movable support '60 ing fluid fromthe nozzle 69, supported adjacent thereto.

The roller 1| contacts with the marking Wheel 12 which is adjustably supported with respect to the body portion 66, by means of the bars 13, which are formed with elongated openings through which the adjusting bolts 15 extend.

When the machine moves over a paved sur face and the marking wheel 12 engages an enlargement on the paved surface, the contact of the wheel 12 and enlarged surface will cause the wheel 12 to rotate, depositing a quantity of marking fluid on the enlargement. It will of course be understood that the marking liquid used in marking the road surface, is of such a thick consistency that it does not flow freely but is pulled from the nozzle by the action of the roller H. Thus it will be seen that the marking liquid is transferred to the wheel 12 only when the wheel 12 contacts with the road. surface and is rotated. In order that the device may be conveniently operated, handles 16 are provided at one end of the .body portion. It might be further stated that the marking fluid is held within the tank under pressure of air forced into the tank, by means of the hand pump 11, located on the handles 16, air from the pump 11 being directed to the tank, through the'pipe 18.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

A machine of the class described comprises a body portion, a tank on the body portion, a valve housing mounted on the body portion, a pipe extending from the valve housing, a nozzle at the lower end of 'the'pipe, a pipe establishing com- -muni'cation between the tank and valve housing a and adapted to direct marking material to the valve housing, a-bar pivotally mounted under the body portion, a roller mounted on the bar and adapted to contact with the road surface over whichthe body portion moves, a vertically movable rod, pivotally connected to one end of the bar and adapted to move vertically with said bar, yieldable' means for normally urging the rod toits inactive position, a plate mounted on the upper end of the rod, a valve stem, adjustable means connecting the valve stem to the plate whereby movement of the rod and plate produces a relative movement of the valve stem releasing a quantity of marking material.

JEWEL-IL ROBERT BENSON. 

